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European Parliament and member states reached deal on Nature Restoration Law -

The Nature Restoration Law will require member states to implement measures to restore nature on at least 20% of the EU's land and marine areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.

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Ozone layer recovery is on track -

According to the UN, the ozone layer is officially on track for recovery within four decades. The report presented at the American Meteorological Society's annual meeting stated that the ozone layer will be back to its 1980 "pre-thinning levels" by around 2040.

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A fifth person has been confirmed as cured of HIV -

A 53-year-old man from Germany has been cured of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant in 2014. The transplant is usually exclusively done in cancer patients. After stopping his HIV medication four years ago, there is now no detectable virus in the man's blood.

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Iceland's prime minister joined a mass walkout over inequality -

Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir joined women across Iceland striking for equality on October 24. Some 100,000 women gathered in Reykjavík to protest unequal pay and gender-based violence.

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Women's soccer broke records -

Almost two million fans attended the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, up by more than 600,000 on the previous record. The tournament, which Spain won for the first time, expanded to 64 games, compared to 52 four years ago.

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A four-day week trial confounded critics -

Companies that embraced a four-day week in a US and Canadian trial were better able to retain staff and saw no noticeable drop-off in productivity. On top of that, 40% of staff reported feeling less stressed. Similar trials are also being carried out in the UK, Ireland, Belgium, and Portugal.

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Brazil expelled illegal miners from indigenous lands -

Brazil's environmental and police special forces expelled 90% of the 20,000 miners who had been devastating the protected Yanomami territory. For years, Yanomami Indigenous leaders have said the expansion of illegal mining on their territories was causing widespread environmental degradation, as well as increasing threats, violence, and disease among their community. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared the situation a humanitarian crisis.

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AI detected breast cancer four years before it developed -

In March, computer-assisted detection (CAD) was used in Hungary to detect a woman's breast cancer four years before it developed. CAD helps review images, assess breast density, and flag high-risk mammograms that may have been missed by radiologists. It's reported to improve cancer detection rates by 13%.

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Germany to pay Holocaust survivors US$1.4 billion -

Almost US$890 million will be used to provide home care and supportive services for frail and vulnerable Holocaust survivors, and $535 million will be allocated to direct payments to survivors around the world. Survivors will receive the funds in the form of monthly pensions or one-off payments.

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Australia passed a gender pay gap transparency bill -

The Australian federal government passed the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2023, which forces companies with more than 100 employees to publish their gender pay gap data. The data will then be made public online. This transparency is crucial, as secrecy around pay is one of the main reasons a gap exists. The gender pay gap is currently 13.3% in Australia.

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Over 70 countries signed a historic UN treaty to protect high seas -

After two decades of planning and 38 hours of negotiations, over 70 countries reached a historic agreement to protect the world’s oceans. The High Seas Treaty aims to classify 30% of the seas as protected by 2030, also known as the 30×30 pledge initially made at COP15.

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Ghana first to approve Oxford's malaria vaccine -

Ghana became the first country in the world to approve the new Oxford R21 malaria vaccine, specifically for children aged up to three years old who are most vulnerable to the disease. Developed by researchers at the University of Oxford, the vaccine was found to be 77% effective in the latest research.

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The UK and the Netherlands announced the world's biggest clean energy line -

In April, the UK and the Netherlands announced the new LionLink project, which will provide 1.8 gigawatts (GW) of clean electricity from an offshore wind farm, to power homes in both countries. Four times bigger than the existing NordLink between Germany and Denmark, the new project will bring down energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.

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Spain approved menstrual leave, teen abortion, and trans laws -

Spanish Parliament approved legislation expanding abortion and transgender rights for teenagers, while making Spain the first country in Europe to entitle workers to paid menstrual leave. The two laws were led by former equality minister Irene Montero.

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South Africa to become the first African country with shared parental leave -

In October, the South African High Court ruled that "all categories of parents, whether by birth, adoption or surrogacy, should have equal leave durations." Previously, mothers were entitled to four months of leave and fathers or partners were allowed a maximum of 10 days. The new ruling will allow parents to choose how to divide the four months of leave between them.

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The world's economy is showing resilience to global pressures -

According to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) annual analysis, the global economy has shown resilience and continues to grow, but at a slowing pace. Overall, global growth in 2023-2024 will be moderate compared to the historical average.

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California requires companies to report carbon emissions -

The measure, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, will be the first of its kind in the US, serving as a blueprint for national climate accountability. The law will require companies with more than US$1 billion on annual revenue to report how much carbon is being produced from their operations and electricity use. It applies to around 5,300 corporations, including Chevron, Wells Fargo, Amazon, and Apple.

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Ecuador launched debt swap for Galápagos Islands' conservation -

Ecuador achieved the world's largest "debt-for-nature" deal, converting US$1.6 billion in debt into a $656 million loan from Credit Suisse. Ecuador will repay this loan over the next 18 years, while allocating approximately $17 million annually to support conservation efforts in the Galápagos Islands.

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India approved bill to allocate 33% of Parliament seats for women -

In September, lawmakers in India's upper house of Parliament passed a bill to reserve 33% of seats in the lower house and state assemblies for women. This was only a day after the landmark legislation was approved by the lower house.

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Indefinite immigration detention ruled unlawful in Australia -

In a landmark decision, Australia's High Court ruled that indefinite immigration detention is unlawful, overturning a previous decision from 2004.

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Cervical cancer treatment had a major breakthrough after 20 years -

A study funded by Cancer Research UK showed that using existing, less expensive drugs prior to standard chemoradiation treatment may reduce the risk of death for women from cervical cancer by 35%. Scientists say it's the biggest breakthrough in treating cervical cancer in 20 years.

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Europeans value a healthy mind as much as a healthy body, a poll showed -

An EU poll has revealed that almost nine in 10 people believe that the promotion of good mental health is as important as nurturing robust physical health.

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Portugal hit an important new renewable energy record -

From October 31 to November 6, renewable energy production exceeded the country’s electricity needs for 149 hours straight, setting a new record. Portugal is aiming to generate 85% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, and this shows that they're on the right track.

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Taiwan tackled period poverty -

Taiwan became the latest nation to tackle period poverty, with its Ministry of Education unveiling a US$3.1 million package to fund free menstrual products in schools and universities. Supplies are also being provided via public spaces, such as libraries, museums, and art centers in major cities.

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Ecuadorians voted to stop oil drilling in the Amazon -

In a historic referendum pitting the people against big oil, 60% of Ecuadorians voted to halt drilling in a protected region of the Amazon. The majority of voters said "no" to oil exploration in Yasuní National Park, home to the Tagaeri and Taromenane Indigenous communities.

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US surgeons performed the world's first whole eye transplant -

In November, a team of surgeons in New York performed the world's first transplant of an entire eye. The patient is Aaron James of Arkansas, who survived a 7,200-volt electric shock in June 2021. But because this eye transplant was part of a broader face transplant, the transplanted eye is not communicating with the brain through the optic nerve. However, doctors still hope for his vision to be restored.

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Switzerland approved a net-zero climate law -

In June, 59% of Swiss citizens voted "yes" to a new climate law that will help the country achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The new law will financially incentivize replacing oil and gas with clean energy, with the government pledging US$2.6 billion over 10 years towards the transition.

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Medication to treat Alzheimer's disease was approved -

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug Leqembi for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. It's the first medication to demonstrate convincing evidence of slowing some of the cognitive decline associated with the disease.

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A total of 22 European cities have been recognized for their climate leadership in a major global ranking -

From Stockholm to Athens, and Madrid to Milan (pictured), the non-profit charity CDP named 22 European cities as the most planet-friendly in the world. The non-profit looked at how countries disclosed their environmental impact.

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UNESCO says 50 million more girls are in school than in 2015 -

This translates to an additional 22.5 million girls in primary school, 14.6 million more in lower secondary, and 13 million more in upper secondary education. But although this is great news, it remains a work in progress, with 122 million girls still out of school around the world. 

Sources: (The Guardian) (Euronews) (AP Newsroom) (Positive News) 

See also: All the major stars who've come out as LGBTQ+ in 2023

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